116 buttons

I am on my way to my first finish for 2009... and what a finish!

The binding and hanging sleeve are on the French Collection quilt...

Sewing the buttons on is taking quite some time. There are a lot of buttons. 116 actually.

I need some small beads to finish sewing on the small buttons with only one hole.

You can really see the gaps where the buttons need to go.

This is my night-time project. I am flat out painting shelves and what-not.

Lots of designs in your head?

Have you been over to Virtual Quilter's blog? She designs a lot of quilts on EQ and shows us pictures. Most of the quilts aren't ever made.

Do you have lots of designs running around in your head? Why not make a miniature? A mini could be the size of a greeting card. Imagine that, Irish chain machine-appliqued on measuring only 4" x 5". I think I will try that very soon!!

I made this miniature quilt with raw-edge machine applique. I was inspired by Marie Webster's quilt poppies c.1912.

Marie Webster is mostly responsible for the look of those 1920s - 1930s quilts made from homespuns in pastel colours. She designed quilt kits.

You can find out more about Marie Webster and other ground-breaking quilt designers of the past at Online Quilter. This is a fabulous site full of info for people interested in quilt history (that's me!!). You will want to visit this site periodically to get through all the information on it!

Plus, look at the Clothesline section - Jan Baker shares photos of her wonderful collection of antique quilts.

How to find quilter's blogs

Have you heard about http://www.quilterblogs.com/ ??

You can browse through quilter's blogs to your heart's content.

I just listed my blog there. They don't seem to have a little gizmo to go on the side of the blogs like Quilting Bloggers etc.

I am stitching away on the 1950s collection. I think I am 2/3 of the way finished. Why aren't there any photos? Er.... well... you see... I didn't have all the thread colours when I started. So, while I have stitched nearly all pictures, I need to go back and do the other 4 colours on all of them, then some colouring-in.

You will soon see!!

Update: It took a little bit of a look, but I did find the html for the button (it's under the SCQuilters button on my blog). Thanks Mary.

The wedding quilt that never was...

Yes, I know it's mine!!

Too bad all the clothing was for ladies in the bowling set (hey! I am in the bowling set!!) or I could have walked around saying "this is mine, this is mine" (Have you seen that episode of Red Dwarf?).

Anyway, Mildura was lovely for a wedding last weekend. I did not get a quilt made for the adorable couple (this was to be the art nouveau quilt).

They got a vintage radio. Perhaps I will get a wall-hanging made sometime? They plan on having children quick-smart, so I will make them baby quilts that I know will be appreciated.

They want a Tarago in the next couple of years... so I think they will be very busy!! LOL!!

Thanks Mum!

Well, here is the French Collection quilt now that Mum has long-armed the most complementary designs onto it.

I asked for cross-hatching all over each of the stitcheries, a twirly grapevine along the sashings, and cross-hatching behind the applique.

My DH wasn't sure about the cross-hatching all over the stitcheries - he worries that it detracts from the stitched pictures. But, he couldn't come up with any other way for the stitchery blocks to be quilted as there is just no space for outlining in the pictures.

The quilt will look really different with its hand-painted buttons attached. This will happen after the binding.

I guess I had better add a hanging sleeve. It will probably hang more often than sit on the bed.

I can't wait to finish it! But I've barely had time to post!!

20 quilts this year...

Well, the 20 quilts include small wallhangings.. and this also includes some UFO quilt tops that were completed.

I have three things with hardly anything to finish on them (funky monkey, Mrs Perkins and the peg bag). It just isn't going to happen today.

I pulled out 7 wheelbarrows of weeds today (two days ago I pulled out another 8 wheelbarrows full of weeds) and planted 9 plants into the cottage garden in our rose circle. Tomorrow I need to pull some flowering broccoli out of the vegie patch to put in some spring onions and zucchini (the broccoli has stopped the weeds taking over).

I hope I will be able to start the finished projects for 2009 list very soon.

I have some great news! I mentioned I was a cover girl, but I didn't say what it means!

Remember this quilt?

Here is another view!

Can you imagine how excited I was to find out it was on the cover!!

You will find instructions to make my quilt in the Down Under Quilts yearbook (issue 128, January 2009).

Plus seven pages about me with some quilts seen on here already, plus some others you haven't seen before.

My phots are a little bit blurry. I took them without the flash to ensure there was no reflection. You will have to buy the mag if you want a better look!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Souvenirs

I must say that after a few days on the coast I am quite brown! I slathered stacks of sunscreen on, but some rays still got through!

A Christmas tree in the window - cute decorations

It's funny what we bring back as "souvenirs" isn't it? I can only deal with so many spoons and fridge magnets and I don't use stubby holders. Christmas Eve in Milton NSW I found an opp shop open!

opp shop pattern - 20 cents (I like the one with lace)

I really want to make this nightgown. If it works as a nighty (maybe sage green) I think I will make one as a dress in a nice 1970s green - sort of light emerald.

I would like to make the bags - crochet is so quick (pattern - 20 cents)

I have been really inspired by reading EmilyKate's blog and the links in her "procrastination station". I really thought I was the only one to buy stuff at opp shops and alter them!! LOL!!

No, I can't see myself making any of these on the back of the pattern.

zippers - 20 cents each

I am going to three weddings over the next 4 weeks, so I thought that was a good excuse to buy a new outfit (I can wear it to all three!!). I hope I will find something at the Indian shops. I have a nice pant-suit in mind. I had a quick look around my local opp shop today -nothing tempted me there (and that is a suprise!).

On the way home from Christmas-on-the-coast I stopped at Braidwood - famous for it's quilt hangings up and down the street in November every year.

I popped in and saw the new Down Under Quilts mag on the counter! I am a cover girl!!

Of course, I only happened to go the counter because I was buying this.

I think it will make a really good address-book-cover for my BIL's birthday (I know, I wasn't going to make anymore, but that was just for 2008).